Breaking Bad S3 (2010) Review

Breaking Bad S3 (2010)

Breaking Bad Season 3 follows Walter and Jessie, as Walt looks to rectify his failing marriage and business partnership, while Jessie finds himself in Gus and Hank’s crosshairs. 

Season 3 of Breaking Bad is when this show elevates from really good to outright great. So much is packed into it from a narrative and turning point perspective, that will forever change the show from here on out. Walter’s secret is finally exposed, as Skyler leaves him (though thats still up in the air), transitioning into possible business partners as she refuses to out him but needs his money. Meanwhile, his relationship with Gus takes so many turns, from one of respect and admiration, to souring following Walt’s saving of Jessie, and likely only souring more following Jessie’s murder of Walter’s replacement, Gale, to end the season. 

As for Jessie, I feel like his innocence is finally beginning to be stripped away following Jane’s death, sobering up and becoming a much more calculated individual fit for the world he’s now apart of. This coming off the heels of being beaten within an inch of his life by Hank and being fucked over by just about everyone in the show. 

Narratively, this show just elevates to new heights this season because so much happens in such a small time frame, introducing serious stakes for all of our characters, bad and good, forcing decisions that ripple out and touch everyone in some way or another, which is just a credence to Gilligan’s storytelling as he continues to up the ante. 

We get another phenomenal cast, starring Christopher Cousins, Jere Burns, Steven Michael Quesada, RJ Mitte, David Costabile, Daniel & Luis Moncada, Betsy Brandt, Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Dean Norris, Anna Gunn, Giancarlo Esposito, Aaron Paul, and Bryan Cranston. While Cranston and Paul are just as money as always, newcomers Banks and Esposito really step in this season with such a wisdom and power where they absolutely crush every scene they’re in, always particularly bringing out the best in Cranston. 

Breaking Bad S3, directed by Vince Gilligan, is where this show really comes into its own as something truly special, introducing so much conflict and balancing so many important stories without ever losing sight of its end goal, slowly forming Gus into the series’ big bad and setting Walt and Jessie up to be closer than ever. 

9.3/10